NUMBER THE STARS Novel Background History, Texts, Activities PRINT and EASEL

This resource is designed to be used during the study of the novel Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. It is not a novel study, but rather a package of three informational texts and activities that provide students with information about the author, Denmark, and Denmark during WWII.

1) The resource begins with a “student survey” - place students in groups or have them work on their own to ascertain how much they know about Denmark and WWII in general. The area on the right of the page is where they can write their initial answers - their final answers can be inserted on the left when the correct information is found (this survey can also be done as a webquest), either when the class comes back together as a group, or you supply the answers, or after students read the texts.

2) There are three texts: “Lois Lowry, Author of Number the Stars” is a page and a half in length; “Introducing Denmark”, a 2-page general look at Denmark including some history, geography, and demographics - a map is included of northern Europe; and “Denmark and World War II”, a 2-page passage about the background of the war, Denmark’s status during the war, and the ultimate fate of Jewish Danes. This last text might be best done after or during reading the last part of the novel, as there is some hint of what happens to Ellen and her family.

3) All three texts include vocabulary work and comprehension/ opinion questions;

4) An answer key is provided for the survey, and the vocabulary and question pages.

The biographical texts and activities about Lois Lowry can be bought separately (that version can be used with any Lowry novel)

and the section on Denmark can also be bought separately (and does not have to be used with Number the Stars). These resources can be seen here:

Denmark Informational Text and More

Lois Lowry Biography and Activities

I have similar resources in my store for these novels:

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

My Brother Sam is Dead

Elijah of Buxton

A Long Walk to Water

The One and Only Ivan

And with a somewhat different format:

The Call of the Wild